Refrigerating apparatus



Och 26, 1954 K. K. KEsLlNG REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 21. 1952 Oct- 26, 1954 K. K. KEsLlNG REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Keith K. Kesling BY zum, #w @Q Jua.,

Patented Oct. 26, 1954 Ncarri-:o STATE-s PATENT -o-.11=i1=rcr;

Keith KL K'sling, Dayton, 0hio,as`si'gnor to Gneral 'Motors Corporation, Dayton, Oh'io, a cor'- poration lo'fDelaware vApplication.f-Iiebrual'y:21, 1952, Serial: No.5 272,751

1i" Claims. (Cl. SI2-214) This invention relates to. a-ire-frigeratin'g. apparatus and more particularly to a doubledoor arrangement for thoroughly sealing `an-access `opening of a refrigerated compartment-in a refrigerator cabinet.

It has long `been `the-custom infmanufacturing refrigerating cabinets of' the :two doory type to provide a central mullion. across thefrontof a food storage compartment-.inthe cabinet which is ush with theA front `wall of the cabinet so-as topermit a gasket about the peripheraledgesof the doors toengage:and'sealagainst'this mullion as Well as against portionsrof `thefcabinet-front wall. The provisionof such a centralmullion not only complicates the cabinet construction but also `increases its manufacturing oost I, therefore, contemplate theomission of thecentral mullion intatwo -door refrigerator whileat the same time effectively 'sealingl the opening pro- Viding access lto a-food storage4 compartmen-tin the refrigerator cabinet particularly` at-fay joint between matingedges of ltwo doorsfemployedf-to close the compartment access'opening.

An object of myinventionislto provide-animproved. double` door arrangementffor opening `and closing the open frontera -foodstorage compartment in a refrigeratorcabinet.V

Another object ofrmy invention is to-providel a double door arrangement for `the food: storage compartment of a-refrigeratorcabinetwherein the joint betweenfmating-edges .ofthe-doorsis effectively sealed/againstireat leakage b'ya l mechanical mechanism carried bye .and,.ren dered effective uponclosing-the-v doors.

A further objectof my `invention `is` to provide a sealing arrangement-for the. joint between mating edges of two doors. on-a mullionless refrigerator cabinet that includes two. gasketsmechanically pressed into engagement withtone another and wherein either offthedoorscan be. moved to break the sealfat/thefjoint independently of movement ofthe other door. foropening a portion of the food.storage-compartmentintthe refrigerator.

In carrying out the foregoing objects ittisa still further and more specifieobject of myy inf' vention to provide atleverage mechanism lon eachV of two doors employed to close `theaccessopening of a food storagecompartment in a refrigerator cabinet `which mechanism includesl portionsy engageable with the l cabinet for moving s a-` movable resilient portionof.a:.gasket-on thetmating edge of each door whereby.- the `gaskets--are brought` vinto sealing :contactI withl onel another when the doorsnarefclosed y `Further objects and advantagesV of thepresent:

TZ invention-Will 4beapparentA from .the-following description, reference being 7had `to the l accompanyingdrawinga wherein apreferred form of the present Vinvention lis'clearlyshown.`

In the drawings.:

Figure 1 isla front vview ofa refrigerator cabinet showing two-.doors closing aicompartment therein and having the 4joint -at Vtheir mating edges sealed 4in accordancewith the present invention;

`Figure .-Zisan-enlarged broken..horizontal` sectional` viewof .the `refrigerator cabinet shown in Figure land is taken on the lineZ-Z thereof;

Fgu-reis an enlargedfragmentary horizontal crossl sectional View. taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1 showingfthe refrigerator cabinet doors in` olffisedpositionwith gasketsl thereonin `sealing. engagement-with -oneanother;

Figure itis aviewlikeFigureB Vand showsl one of..th`e cabinetv doors partially opened ywith a movable 4portionof.` agasket thereon movedto a rest position alongwthe mating. edge of the opened door;

lligureu-lisY a fragmentary bracketed perspective view ofwparts ofthe refrigerator door seal structure dismantled;

Figure 6`is afragmentary vertical sectional view-taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 3 showing the door sealed-` tothe cabinet adjacent .thesealed joint between mating `edges of `two, doors;

Figure? isa fragmentary horizontal sectional viewoftwo doors sealed tonaocabinet in accordance with a-modied. form-of the present invention; and

Figure aisa viewlikeFigure 7 vshowing one of thedoorsin, a partially opened posi-tion.

For illustrating purposes, I 1 have shown in. Figure 1 ofthe drawings a .refrigerated cabinet, generallyrepresented bythe reference` character H3, having my invention embodiedltherein. The cabinet comprises a plurality of-walls forming a food storage compartment-therein. The-walls of cabinet lincludean. outer metal panel or shell Il, an.. innermetal liner L2 andany suitable or conventional insulating material I4 disposed therebetweenisee EigureZ). These walls surround a foodstorage compartment t5. formeel within4 cabinetl lof.: Compartment i5= has an opened-front or-tlie front walll'of cabinet lo has any opening-therein providing accessto-the interior ofvthefoodstorage compartment This opened. front or accessiopening-ofcompartment is normallyA closed by two doors, generally represented by the reference characters, IBfand Il, pivotally mountedupon cabinetY min sideby side relationship .for horizontal swinging .movement rela- ES and I'.

tive thereto by any suitable or conventional hinges I8. Any suitable or conventional insulating breaker strip structure may be located at the throat of the access opening of compartment I where the front edges of metal shell Il and liner I2 terminate and are secured together. It is to be noted that the open front of cabinet it is devoid of a central mullion and that the doors It and I1 have adjacent mating edges I9 and 2i) respectively extending across the access opening of compartment l5 and providing a joint exposed to the interior of the food storage compartment which joint must be thoroughly sealed to prevent heat leakage into the compartment. Each door I6 and i'I comprises a metal outer pan or panel 2 I, an inner, preferably plastic, pan or panel 22 and insulating material, similar to the material i4, disposed therebetween (see Figure 2). The door pans or panels 2l and 22 are secured together in any suitable or desirable manner such as by screws 23 (see Figure 3) preferably of low heat conductive metal or insulating material. Screws 23 are also employed to anchor a mounting portion 28 of a rubber or the like gasket upon each of the doors I6 and I'I. The gaskets extend around the perimeter of doors I5 and I'l, .between overlapping flanges provided at the edges of the pans or panels 2l and 22, and the screws 23 pass through suitable openings provided in the mounting portion 26 of the gaskets. Each rubber gasket has a movable or resilient body portion 2l integral with the mounting portion 2e thereof and a soit sponge-like sealing lip 28 projecting outwardly from and formed integral with the body portion 2'I. The lip 28 together with an edge part 29 of body portion 2'I on the gaskets engage and seal against the front wall shell or panel I l of cabinet It! along the top, bottom, and the hinged side of doors it and il (see Figures 2 and 7). At least that portion of each gasket extending along the adjacent mating edge I9 of door It and 2t of door I'I is provided with integral aligned and spaced apart eyelet-like bosses 3l (see Figure 5) forming a row of piano-like hinge butts for a purpose to be presently described.

Any suitable or conventional latching means may be employed to maintain the doors i6 and il in closed position. n the present disclosure, mount spring brackets 33 within and on the top and bottom walls of food compartment I5 for the reception of headed studs 3d (see Figure 2) carried upon the inner pan or panel 22 of doors Legs of the spring brackets 33 embrace and frictionally grip the enlarged head portion of studs 34, when the doors are closed, and thus only a stationary handle, such as handles 36 (see Figure l), are required on the doors I5 and Il to permit breaking of the frictional engagement between the brackets 33 and studs 34 when a door is to be opened. It is to be under stood that any desirable arrangement for latching doors i5 and I'I in their closed position may be provided and instead of latching the doors to brackets on walls of compartment I5 they may be latched to suitable means provided at the front edge of food supporting shelves stationarily mounted within compartment I5.

A metal member 4I (see Figures 3 and 5) is associated with and embraces the body portion 2li of the gaskets and is disposed between this body portion and the edge of the inner door pan 22 at each of the adjacent mating edges I9 and 25 of doors I6 and Il respectively. Each member Il! is of substantially U-shaped in cross section and is provided with spaced apart aligned eyelet-like portions 42 (see Figure 5) forming a' row of piano-like hinge butts along the end of one leg thereof. The end of the other leg or each U-shaped member 4l is provided with a rolled or bent over flange t which lies in back oi the gasket lip 23 to insure movement of this lip when member 4I is moved. A long rod or hinge pin 43 (see Figure 5) is passed through eyeletlike bosses 3l provided on the gaskets and through the inter-fitting eyelet-like portions 4'2 of member 4I to hingedly attach member 4i to the gasket for mounting the same upon doors I6 and I'I (see Figure 3). Metal members 4I extend throughout substantially the entire length of the mating edges I9 and 2t of doors It and Il respectively and have a finger 44 welded thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at the top and at the bottom thereof through suitable slots provided in the gaskets. The fingers 44 extend at right angles to members lll a short distance into food compartment I5 and are adapted to engage cam strikers 45 adjustably secured, by screws or the like, to liner I2 at the topand at the bottom of compartment I5 for a purpose to be presently described.

The body portion 21 of the gaskets and consequently the projecting lip 23 thereon along the two adjacent mating edges i9 and 2d of doors I6 and I1 respectfully lie in a rest position along the edge of the inner door pans 22 when the doors are opened. When doors It and I'i are moved toward closed position the projecting fingers 44 on metal member 4I engage the cam strikers 4t and are cammed or moved in a direction to swing members il and consequently bias the movable portion 2i and the integral sealing lip 2S of the gaskets outwardly relative to the mating edge of the doors. The swinging of members 4I, by the act of closing doors l@ and Il, and consequently the biasing of lips 28 on the gaskets move these lips 28 into engagement with one another (see Figure 3) to seal the joint, exposed to the interior of compartment I5, be* tween mating edges I9 and 20 of doors I6 and I'I respectively. When this joint is sealed the lip 28 and the edge of body portion 2l on the gaskets along the portions thereof extending across the top, bottom and the hinged vertical side of doors I6 and I'I engage the cabinet wall II to form a double seal for the access opening of compartment I5 (see Figures 6 andi). The gaskets along the mating edge of doors it and l1 are extended beyond the operating fingers @4 at the bottom of the doors (see Figure 6) and also at the top of the doors so as to overlap and engage the front cabinet wall II adjacent the upper and lower portions of the joint between the doors. This extension of continuation of the gaskets at these joints form the sole means of providing a continuous seal for the access open? ing of compartment I5 throughout its height. Ink

other words no additional elements are required adjacent the joint between the doors to seal this joint at the top and the bottom of the doors.

Pulling on handle 36 of either door it and Il `releases stud 34 from its holding bracket 33 duracca-eco the' initial opening. movementA of `onerof 4the doors I or I'I to movethesealing lipa'lawayrvfrom and 'out of sealing engagement .with .the lip 4Zton thefmating edge of .the other. door' tobreakthe sealed joint between thedoors. Separation of lipsxEv on the gaskets` at the mating Vedges I9 `and 2'!) of doors I6 andI'I respectively, upon initial opening movementthereoi`,.preventsundue scrapingor rubbingof the gasket sealingllipsragainst one another. Since the gasket. arrangement along `the .mating edge oi both `doors LIB" `andi i I .'Illis substantially the same it should be understood that both doors mayifdesired be. opened `simultaneously and/or s one door'maybe opened independently of movementof theothervdoor'.

.In Figure. '7: of thev drawings, I .showva modification of my inventionwhereinthe.operating means for the gasket moving member includes means which extends to the `hingededge oi the doors andengages a wall of thetcabinet to thus eliminate the mounting offbrackets 46 intthe iood storage compartment I5. In .this form of my -invention I slidably mount a pair of armsvl .upon each door IG and Ila. One. arm. 5i .extends horizontally across the upper `portion while the other of the pair of arms extendsinlikemanner across the lower portion of each door. The arms 5I preferably lie closely. adjacent to the inner face of doors I'a and I'Iaand are slidable within suitable openings provided in supporting guides 52' attached inlany. suitable or desirable manner, such as, byscrews 53. to the inner door pan 22. While I show the arms 5I `as being located onthe outside ofthe `inner 'face of doors I6 and I'I itis to 4be understood'lthatthese arms could, if desired, be extendedhorizontally through the interior ofthe door structure. The one or innerend 54 of each ar1n`5l'is pivotally attached byascrew, pin or the like 5S to the finger 44a welded to and projecting from the gasket backing metallmember da. Finger 44a `is similar to but somewhat shorter than the iinger 44 in the construction disclosed in Figures 1 to.6`of the drawings; The outer or other-oppositeend. 51 of each arm `5I is bent or formed to provide a foot or tab 58 thereon adapted to engage a wall of the refrigerator cabinet.

In this modified arrangement of the camming or operating means for the gaskets on the mating edges Ic and 25a of doors I6@ and Ila respectively normally locates the gasket backing member Mu in a position of rest against door pan 22a (see Figure 8) when a door is opened. Upon moving the opened door Ila shown in Figure 8 into closed position as shown in Figure '7, about its hinges I8a, the foot or tab 58 on each of the pair of arms 5I engages a part of the cabinet, vertical wall of liner I2 of compartment I5, at the hinged side of the door. As the door Ila is moved into its final closed position the direct engagement of arms 5I with the cabinet wall causes relative movement between the arms 5I and door Ila. During this relative movement the arms 5I move lingers 44a to cause member Ila to pivot or swing about its hinged mounting and consequently the gasket along the mating edge of the door is biased out of its position of rest and the lip 28a thereon is biased into engagement with the lip 28a on the adjacent gasket, at the joint between the two doors Ia and I'Ia, ior sealing this joint.

It should be apparent that I have provided an improved mechanically operated sealing arrangement for the joint between mating edges of two doors employed to close a compartment access opening in a refrigerator.` By thoroughly seaiingl mating` edgesof .doors as herein disclosed the necessity ofextending. a mullion.l across. the access opening of afood` storage compartment in a refrigerator. cabinet:iseliminatedV and'` the cabinet structure is rendered less `complicated and more inexpensive. to '.produce. Also by: ex tending or continuing itheagaskets'fbeyond :the `operatingngers .44: at 'theljoint betweenathe two doors I provide` a seal .extending .continuously throughout the height of? thelfood compartment access opening, My'novel sealingarrangement for the joint betweeniimatingredges:.ofItwofdoors is such that either oi: the-doorstcan be opened independently ofvmovement of. thef-otherdoor to thus open a` portion. of the` fopenxfront or access opening of `afood compartmentin a refrigerator.

While the form i of embodimentv oflthe: invention as herein disclosedfconstitutes axpreferred form, it is to be understoodthati other `forms might be adopted, .asrmay come` withintheflscope of the claims which follow.

What is claimedis asiollows:

1. In combination, walls forming'a.Lcabinetlhave ing a compartnfiern",itlierein,l one iof said wallsrhaving an opening providing `access ltoithe interior of said compartment, .doorswnorrnallyi closing. said compartment access opening,.saiddoors having portions thereof abutting said,` one. cabinet wall and having adjacent.'matingn edges 'forming' a joint exposed to thezinterior'oi's'aaid compartment and extending. across :theraccessr opening .'thereoi, a rubber-likev gasket .onieach ofssaidfdoors, each gasket including a mounting portion securedft'o the door and an integral resilient portion entending along the matingfed'geoi (the door upon which it is mounted, .a substantially rigid.,:niern:n ber associatedwith the'iresilientiportion oi'.each of said gaskets, said member' having operating means engageable with :a `mean-s on fsaidcabinet upon closing the-doors for biasingltherresiiient portion of thelgaskets iniafdirection'outwardiy relative to the mating ,edgefoffthe' doors intofseale ing engagement .with i one anothen, `each of 1 said gaskets extending beyond the top and the bottom of said compartment access opening at the joint between said doors and overlappingly engaging said one cabinet wall when the doors are closed to form without the aid of additional means a continuous seal throughout the height of the opening, and each of said doors being movable independently of the other to break the seal at said joint and open a portion of said compartment access opening.

2. In combination, walls forming a cabinet having a compartment therein, one of said Walls having an opening providing access to the interior of said compartment, doors normally closing said compartment access opening, vsaid doors having portions thereof abutting said one cabinet wall and having adjacent mating edges form-` ing a joint exposed to the interior of said com` partment and extending across the access opening thereof, a rubber-like gasket on each of said doors, each gasket including a mounting portion secured to the door and an integral resilient por-` tion extending along the mating edge of the door upon which it is mounted, a substantially rigid member associated with the resilient portion of each of said gaskets, said member having operating means engageable with a means on said cabinet upon closing the doors for biasing the resilient portion of the gaskets in a direction outwardly relative to the mating edge of the doors into sealing engagement with one another, each of said gaskets extending beyond the operating means on said member at the top and bottom of said doors and overlappingly engaging said one cabinet wall above and below the said joint between said doors when the doors are closed to form without the aid of additional means a continuous seal throughout the height of said compartment access opening, and each of said doors being movable independently of the other to break the seal at said joint and open a portion of said compartment access opening.

3. In combination, Walls forming a cabinet having a compartment therein, one of said walls having an opening providing access to the interior of said compartment, doors normally closing said compartment access opening; said doors including inner and outer panels with insulating material therebetween, said doors having portions thereof abutting said one cabinet wall and having adjacent mating edges forming a joint exposed to the interior of said compartment and extending across the access opening thereof, a rubber-like gasket on each or" said doors, each gasket including a mounting portion and an integral resilient portion extending along the mating edge of the door upon which it is mounted, a common means for securing said door panels to one another and for locking the mounting porn tion of said gasket to said door, a substantially rigid member associated with the resilient portion of each of said gaskets, said member having operating means engageable with a means on said cabinet upon'closing the doors for biasing the resilient portion of the gaskets in a direction outwardly relative to the mating edge of the doors into sealing engagement with one another, each oi said gaskets extending beyond the top and the bottom of said compartment access opening at the joint between said doors and overlappingly engaging said one cabinet wall when the doors are closed to form without the aid of additional means a continuous seal throughout the height of the opening, and each of said doors being movable independently of the other to break the seal at said joint and open a portion of said compartment access opening.

4. In combination, walls forming a cabinet having a compartment therein, one of said Walls having an opening providing access to the interior of said compartment, doors normally closing said compartment access opening, said doors including inner and outer panels With insulating material therebetween, said doors having portions thereof abutting said one cabinet wall and having adjacent mating edges forming a joint exposed to the interior of said compartment and extending across the access opening thereof, a rubber-like gasket on each of said doors, each gasket including a mounting portion and an integral resilient portion extending along the mating edge of the door upon which it is mounted, a common means for securing said door panels to one .another and for locking the mounting portion of said gasket to said door, a substantially rigid member associated with the resilient por tion of each of said gaskets, said member having operating means engageable with a means on said cabinet upon closing the doors for biasing the resilient portion of the gaskets in a direction outwardly relative to the mating edge of the doors into sealing engagement with one another, each cf said gaskets extending beyond the operating means on said member at the tcp and bottom of said doors and overlappingly engaging said one cabinet wail above and below the said joint between said doors when the doors are closed to form without the aid of additional means a continuous seal throughout the height o1 f said compartment access opening, and each of said doors being movable independently of the other to break the seal at said joint and open a portion of said compartment access opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,918,911 Hull July 18, 1933 2,095,668 Kunkel Oct. 12, 1937 

